Timer clock with improved reset mechanism



Get. 17, 1967 c. E IVHLLER 3,348,903

TIMER CLOCK WITH IMPROVED RESET MECHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i i 3- INVENTOR CLIFFORD E. MILLER y ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,348,008 TIMER (ILUCK WITH IMPRQVED RESET MEQHANISM Clitford lE. Miiler, 5307 E. 14th St, Oakland, (Zallif. 94601 Filed Get. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,898 7 Claims. 81. 200-1365) This invention relates to clocks of the type having a number of timing or alarm actuators which may be preset to sound an alarm or close other electrical circuits at desired times of the day or at various timing intervals, and is particularly directed to a reset means for such a clock which is capable of resetting the alarm or other circuits without requirement of resetting the actuators.

Various timing clocks are known which include a number of timing or alarm actuators that may be preset to close an electrical circuit for sounding an alarm at desired times of the day or at desired timing intervals. Clocks of this type are disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,098,965 and 2,806,910 to Henry C. James, Jr. Basically, these clocks include a number of actuators arrayed about the clock dial and selectively movable into the path of contact closing cams on a carrier which extends outwardly from the hour hand arbor of the clock and is rotatable therewith. The actuators are in the form of cranks having handles extending through arcuate slots in the face of the clock concentrically spaced about the clock dial. When the handles are positioned at the outer ends of the slots, the cranks are pivoted out of the path of the cams. Movement of the handles towards the inner ends of slots pivots the associated cranks into the path of the cams for errgagement therewith at times determined by the extents to which the cranks are inwardly pivoted. When the cams engage a crank, the contacts are thereby closed to energize an alarm or the like. The contacts are maintained closed and sounding of the alarm persists until the carrier moves the cams beyond the engaging crank unless the crank is pivoted out of engagement with the cams by movement of the associated handle to the outer end of the slot. In instances where the same timing program '01" sequence is to be carried out every day it is hence necessary to reset the actuators daily unless sounding of the alarm for relatively long periods of time can be tolerated.

.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved timer clock having reset means for resetting an alarm or other associated circuit subsequent to its actuation without requirement of resetting the individual alarm or timing actuators thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clock of the class described wherein an alarm or other circuit is controlled by main contacts which are associated with the crank actuatable switch contacts by means of an electric circuit arranged to close the main contacts in response to closure of the switch contacts and to permit resetting of the main contacts even though the switch contacts remain closed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a timer clock with a reset mechanism of the character outlined hereinhefore which is of simple low cost design.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by'the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a clock with Patented Oct. 17, 1967 improved alarm reset means in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the clock with the back cover plate removed.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of the improved alarm reset means of the clock.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, particularly FIGURES 1 and 3, there will be seen to be provided a clock 11 which includes a clock housing or casing 12 in which is mounted the main frame 13 of the clock. The frame includes three plates 14, 16, 17 which are spaced apart by posts 18, 19. A synchronous motor 21 secured to the rear face of plate 14 is coupled to a gear train 22 which drives the usual arbors respectively carrying the second hand 23, minute hand 24, and hour hand 26. Only the hour hand arbor 27 is depicted in the drawing (see FIGURE 3), the other two arbors being coaxially contained therein. The hands are disposed adjacent a clock dial 28 on the front face of plate 17. In the illustrated case, the dial is calibrated in terms of hours of a twenty-four hour day, and the gear train 22 is such as to effect one revolution of the hour hand arbor 27, and therefore the hour hand 26, in the twenty-four hour period.

In order that electric circuits may be closed or broken at preset time intervals of the twenty-four hour period so as to sound an alarm buzzer, or the like, a carrier 29 is secured to the arbor 27 and insulated therefrom. An opposed pair of normally open opposed switch contacts 31, 32 (see FIGURE 4) are secured to the carrier and insulated from each other. Associated with the contacts there is provided a cam arrangement, as generally indicated at 33, for depressing one contact 31 into engagement with the other to thereby close the buzzer or other electrical circuit. Actuation of the cam arrangement to engage the contacts at selected time intervals is accomplished by means of a plurality of actuators in the form of crank pins 44 disposed in the path of travel of the cam arrangement for selective engagement therewith and contact depression actuation thereof as the carrier is rotated by the hour hand arbor. The crank pins are journalled between the frame plates 16, 17 at circumferentially spaced positions about the ciock dial 28. Each pin has journal sections 46, 47 at the opposite ends of a crank portion 48, and a handle extension 49 for rotating the crank. The crank handles respectively extend through a plurality of circumferentiaily spaced arcuate slots 51 formed in the plate 17 and arrayed about the dial 28. The slots are calibrated in terms of minutes and the overall slot array provides an alarm or timing dial. The handles extend sufficiently through the slots to permit them to be grasped whenever a crank is to be adjusted. The cranks are concentric to the path of travel of the cam arrangement 33 and normally assume positions out of engagement with the cams, such positions corresponding to the handles being at the outer ends of the slots. However, upon grasping one or another of the handles and swinging them toward the inner ends of the slots, the crank or cranks connected therewith will similarly swing inwardly into the path of the cam arrangement. During rotation by the carrier 29, the cam arrangement will thus engage the inwardly swung cranks in its paths and be thereby actuated to depress the contacts 31, 32 and close a circuit. The extent to which a handle is swung towards the inner end of an arcuate slot 51 determines the particular minute at which the corresponding crank actuates the cam arrangement. It will be thus appreciated that the actuator or crank handles may be set as desired to effect actuation of the cam arrangement at different times of the twenty-four hour period of the clock and at different time intervals to in turn sound an alarm or close other electrical circuits.

To the extent described to this point, the clock 11 is entirely conventional and is substantially as disclosed in the previously referenced James Patents Nos. 2,098,965 and 2,806,910. Reference may be had to these patents for further elaboration of the details of such a clock. It will be appreciated that with these conventional timer clocks the cam arrangement remains actuated by engagement with one of the actuators or cranks until the carrier moves the cam arrangement beyond same. The contacts may therefore be maintained closed, and, for example, the alarm will buzz for a relatively long time unless the handle is moved from its preset position to its normal position at the outer end of the associated arcuate slot to move the crank out of engagement with the cam arrangement. In many instances this is undesirable. For example, it may be desirable that the clock conduct the same preset alarm or timing sequence day after day. It is then necessary to reset the crank handles for the sequence every day unless lengthy sounding of the alarm can be tolerated.

The above noted limitation is overcome in accordance with the present invention by incorporation in the clock 11 of an alarm reset means which enables the alarm or other electrical circuit to be broken without disturbing the settings of the crank handles 49. To accomplish this end, there are generally provided main contact means for closing the alarm buzzer or other circuit, physically separate from the switch contacts 31, 32 and arranged to close in response to closure of the switch contacts, and means for enabling resetting the main contact means to break the circuit irrespective of the condition of the switch contacts. Thus, the main contacts may be broken when desired to shut 01f the alarm buzzer, or the like, even though the switch contacts 31, 32 remain closed until the cam arrangement 33 is deactuated upon being moved past an engaging crank 48 by the carrier 29. The alarm circuit can thus be reset without moving the crank handles 49 and the pre-set positions thereof are thus retained for as long as is desired.

In the preferred arrangement of the invention generally set forth above, the main contact assembly is designated by the numeral 52, and includes a pair of parallel spacedapart opposed resilient fingers 53, 54. The fingers are of electrically conductive material and project from an insulating support block 56 mounted within the casing 12. The fingers are respectively provided with opposed contact points 57, 58 at intermediate positions thereof. The resiliency of the fingers is such as to urge them towards each other and thereby engage the points with each other. However, the points are normally maintained broken, or open by means of a plunger 59 in interposed engagement with the free ends of the fingers so as to spread same and maintain the points spaced apart. The plunger extends through a solenoid 61 mounted within the casing 12 at a position of aligned opposition to the free ends of the fingers, and through the front of the casing. A reset button 62 is carried by the end of the plunger that projects from the front of the casing. The plunger is of magnetic material such that upon energization of solenoid 61, the plunger is translated magnetically out of engagement with the fingers, thereby freeing them for closure of the points 57, 58. In such position, the button 62 is extended from the front of the casing. Subsequent to deenergization of the solenoid, the button may be at any time depressed to urge the plunger back into point breaking engagement with the fingers, thus resetting the points to open position.

The points 57, 58 of the main contact 52 are respectively connected to one power input lead 62 to the clock motor 21 and to one side of an alarm buzzer 63, or the like, the other side of which is connected to the other power input lead 64 to the motor. Thus, the buzzer is connected across the power line through the points. The buzzer is thus normally deenergized by virtue of the points being broken by the plunger 59. However, upon energization of the solenoid 61, the plunger 59 is with- 4 drawn from between the fingers 53, 54, thereby closing the points and energizing the buzzer until the reset button is depressed.

To effect energization of the solenoid 61 in response to closure of the switch contacts 31, 32, same are coupled together by a thermal relay 66, or equivalent means to momentarily energize the solenoid and thereafter maintain same deenergized until a time subsequent to breaking of the switch contacts. More particularly, the thermal relay includes a heater coil 67 and normally closed bi-rnetallic contacts 68 designed to open after a predetermined delay established by the time required for the heating coil to produce a temperature which will actuate the contacts to open position. The contacts 68 remain open until the heating coil is deenergized and cools sufiiciently to permit the contacts to return to their normally closed position. One switch contact 31 is connected to power lead 62 while the other contact is connected through the heater coil 67 to the other power lead 64. Switch contact 32 is also connected by the normally closed bi-metallic contacts 68 to one side of solenoid 61 and the other side of the solenoid is connected to power lead 64. A noise limiting capacitor 69 is advantageously connected between the contacts 31, 32 to reduce switching transients. Thus, when the switch contacts 31, 32 are actuated closed by the cam arrangement 33 engaging one of the cranks 48, power is simultaneously applied to the thermal relay heater coil 67 and to the solenoid 61. The energized solenoid elfects withdrawal of the plunger 59 from between the fingers 53, 54 and closure of the points 57, 58 in the manner previously described. The buzzer 63 is thus energized. After a brief time delay of for example several seconds, the coil 67 heats sufliciently to open the contacts 68 and thereby deenergize the solenoid 61. The reset button 62 may be now depressed at any desired time to engage the plunger between the fingers and break the points 57, 58, thus deenergizing the buzzer. It is of importance to note that resetting depression of the plunger is made possible by the action of the thermal relay in maintaining the solenoid deenergized even though the switch contacts are closed. Upon opening of the switch contacts in response to disengagement of the cam arrangement from the crank by sufficient movement of the carrier, the heater coil of the thermal relay is deenergized. Shortly thereafter, the contacts 68 return to their normally closed position and the circuit is prepared to conduct another cycle of operation of the type described above. In no instance is it necessary to disturb the settings of the crank handles 49 in resetting the alarm buzzer.

What is claimed is:

1. A clock having a carrier rotated by a clock mechanism, normally open switch contacts carried by said carrier, a cam arrangement associated with said contacts for actuating said contacts into electrical conducting engagement by engagement of the cam with a plurality of actuators in the path of travel of the cam arrangement during rotation of said carrier, said actuators arranged in a circle and normally out of the path of travel of said cam arrangement, and means on each actuator for selectively moving it into the path of travel of said cam arrangement to engage same, normally open main contact means for controlling energization of an electrical circuit, means coupling said switch contacts to said main contact means for closing the latter in response to closure of the former, and means for resetting said main contact means to open position irrespective of the position of said switch contacts, whereby said electrical circuit may be opened without movement of said actuators out of the path of travel of said cam arrangement.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said main contact means comprises a pair of opposed main contacts, reset plunger means associated with said main contacts having a normal position wherein said main contacts are open and an actuated position wherein said main contacts are closed, and a solenoid associated with said plunger means for moving same from said normal to said actuated position in response to energization of said solenoid, said plunger means being manually returnable to said normal position when said solenoid is unenergized, and said means coupling said switch contacts to said main contact means including means for connecting said switch contacts to said solenoid for a momentary predetermined time interval responsive to closure of said switch contacts, and power supply means connected across said switch contacts.

3. The combination of claim 2, further defined by said means for connecting said switch contacts to said solenoid for a momentary predetermined time interval comprising a relay having a normally closed contact connecting said switch contacts in series with said main contact means and means coupled to said switch contacts for opening said normally closed contact at a predetermined time interval after closure of said switch contacts.

4. In a clock of the type having a carrier rotated by a clock mechanism, normally open switch contacts carried by said carrier, a cam arrangement associated with said contacts for actuating same into electrical conducting engagement by engagement with elements in the path of travel of the cam arrangement during rotation of the carrier, plurality of actuators arranged in a circle and normally out of the path of travel of said cam arrangement, and means on each actuator for selectively moving it into the path of travel of said cam arrangement to engage same, the combination comprising a pair of 0pposed main contacts, reset plunger means associated with said main contacts having a normal position wherein said main contacts are open and an actuated position wherein said main contacts are closed, a solenoid associated with said plunger means for moving same from said normal to said actuated position in response to energization of said solenoid, said plunger means being manually returnable to said normal position when said solenoid is unenergized, power line means, and a thermal relay having a heating coil and normally closed contact arranged to open a predetermined time delay following energization of said heating coil and thereafter remain open until deenergization of said heating coil, said heating coil and said switch contacts in series connected across said power line means, said switch contacts and normally closed contact and solenoid in series connected across said power line means.

5. The combination of claim 4, further defined by said main contacts comprising a pair of resilient parallel spaced-apart fingers projecting from a support block and having opposed points at intermediate positions thereof, said fingers being normally resiliently urged towards each other to engage said points together, and said plunger rrneans comprising a plunger extending through said solenoid and movable from said normal to said actuated position in response to energization of said solenoid, said plunger engaged between the free ends of said fingers in said normal position to maintain said points out of engagement and disengaged from said free ends of said fingers in said actuated position.

6. The combination of claim 4, further defined by a noise limiting capacitor connected across said switch contacts.

7. A clock comprising a frame, a clock dial on a front face of said frame, clock hands adjacent said face including an hour hand, a clock motor carried by said frame, an hour hand arbor rotated by said motor and coupled to said hour hand, first and second power lines connected in energizing relation to said motor, a carrier rotated in said frame by said arbor, normally open switch contacts carried by said carrier, a cam arrangement associated with said contacts for actuating same to closed position. means defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced arcuate slots in said frame concentrically about said dial, a plurality of actuator cranks journalled in said frame at circumferentially spaced positions concentric with said arbor, said cranks having handles extending through said slots, said cranks pivotal to positions in the path of said cam arrangement upon movement of said handles from the outer ends toward the inner ends of said slots to engage said carn arrangement and cause same to actuate said contacts during rotation of said carrier, a pair of resilient parallel spaced-apart fingers projecting from a support block and having opposed points at intermediate positions thereof, said fingers being normally resiliently urged towards each other to engage said points together, a solenoid in alignment with the free ends of said fingers, a plunger extending through said solenoid and the front of said frame, said plunger being magnetically movable from a normal position of engagement between the free ends of said fingers to an actuated position disengaged therefrom in response to energization of said solenoid and being manually movable to said normal position when said solenoid is unenergized, an electrical alarm connected across said power lines through said points, a thermal relay having a heating coil and normally closed contact arranged to open a predetermined time delay following energization of said heating coil and thereafter remain open until deenergization of said heating coil, means connecting a first of said switch contacts to said first power line, means connecting the second of said switch contacts to one side of said heating coil, means c0nnecting the second side of said heating coil to said second power line, means connecting said normally closed relay Contact in series with said second switch contact and one side of said solenoid, and means connecting the second side of said solenoid to said second power line.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,098,965 11/1937 James ZOO-38 2,207,394 7/1940 Babcock 307141 2,790,862 4/1957 Montgomery 307--141.8 X 2,797,270 6/1957 Yates 307l41.8 X 2,806,910 9/1957 James 200-38 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

H. E. SPRINGBORN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CLOCK HAVING A CARRIER ROTATED BY A CLOCK MECHANISM, NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH CONTACTS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIER, A CAM ARRANGED ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CONTACTS FOR ACTUATING SAID CONTACTS INTO ELECTRICAL CONDUCTING ENGAGEMENT BY ENGAGEMENT OF THE CAM WITH A PLURALITY OF ACTUATORS IN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE CAM ARRANGEMENT DURING ROTATION OF SAID CARRIER, SAID ACTUATORS ARRANGED IN A CIRCLE AND NORMALLY OUT OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID CAM ARRANGEMENT, AND MEANS ON EACH ACTUATOR FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING IT INTO THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID CAM ARRANGEMENT TO ENGAGE SAME, NORMALLY OPEN MAIN CON- 